France: From January 2019 Bitcoin sale in the tobacco shops

the In France from next year it will be possible to buy Bitcoin and Ether in tobacco shops. In cooperation with the Bitcoin provider KeplerK the virtual currency as of 1 may. January Andes in 3,000 to 4,000 French tobacco shops.

By Christopher clover
22. November 2018 share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn xing mail

the French, who have already taken the intent, to the end of the year to quit with all the Smoking, you need to consider the following: as of January, there will be one more reason to get lost in a tobacco shop. Then it should be in France, namely, possible to purchase in tobacco shops Bitcoin and Ether. The cooperation between the Association of the French tobacco dealer, the Business services provider Bimedia and the Bitcoin provider KeplerK allowing customers of three to four Thousand tobacco retailers to buy Bitcoin. This is evident from a contribution of the French radio station Europe 1.

Specifically, the customers can purchase Coupons for 50, 100 or 250 Euro. This can then be used online on the page of KeplerK against Bitcoin or Ether exchange.

Who does not go with the time...

"The tobacconist's, my grandpa's is no longer relevant." Philippe Coy, the President of the French Association of tobacco distributors, would like to go with the time. This wool also carry the demands of the digitisation of the invoice. To increase the proximity to customers:

"We are in a process of transformation, a process [...] the digitisation of the offer, and today should be our message that we are as close as possible to the consumer",

so Coy to Europe 1.

And what the Central Bank says?

Contradictory reports exist about how the French Central Bank the Initiative. First of all, it was said on Europe 1 that the co-operation of the was sanctioned on the I tsbehörde "Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution" (ACPR). The ACPR is part of the Banque de France, the French Central Bank.

This denies in a statement of 21. November, however, to have an explicit permission for the sale of Bitcoin Coupons in tobacco shops granted. So it says on the Website of the Central Bank:

"contrary to what was said this Morning by some radio stations, without prior Verification, signed an agreement that allowed the sale of Bitcoin in tobacco shops. There is no agreement on this issue will be discussed or sought.“

So, back to command? Not quite. Phllippe Coy holds a permit from the new service by the Banque de France.

"The tobacco dealer does not require the approval of the Banque de France in order to sell these Coupons. Today, the KeplerK platform allows us to do this.“

The Initiative is just a small piece in the mosaic of mass adaption of Bitcoin. This becomes clear when you look at the 4,000 participating tobacco dealer, and the total number of tobacco points of sale in France. In total, there are about 25,000 such "Bureaux de Tabac" in France. After all, every sixth French tobacco would be to load in the future, a focal point for Bitcoin, and nicotine Junkies.